Non-invasive wearable sensors for monitoring plant health

Plant health is a critical determinant of crop quality, food security and agricultural productivity. The ability to monitor plant health in real time, supported by advanced sensor technologies that facilitate early disease detection and stress monitoring, is essential for minimizing crop loss. Biotic and abiotic stressors significantly affect plant health. Wearable sensors, designed for attachment to plant organs such as leaves or stems, provide a non-invasive means of continuously capturing and converting biological and environmental signals into electrical data for analysis. This review presents a structured overview of the current advancements in the field of wearable plant sensors, focusing on their fundamental properties, classification, sensing mechanisms, and applications. The principal categories of wearable plant sensors include piezoresistive, chemical, photodetector, and capacitive sensors, each of which contributes uniquely to monitoring plant health. These sensor technologies provide practical solutions for sustainable agriculture by enabling real-time monitoring and improving plant stress management, which improve growth conditions and enhance overall productivity. The continued development of multifunctional and resilient sensor systems exhibits great potential for revolutionizing agricultural practices.

Graphic abstract

Wearable sensors attached to plant organs (e.g., leaves, stems) enable real-time, non-invasive monitoring of plant health, detecting biotic and abiotic stressors. These sensors, including piezoresistive, chemical, photodetector, and capacitive types, convert biological and environmental signals into electrical data, supporting early disease detection and stress management. Advancements in multifunctional and resilient sensor systems promise to enhance crop quality, food security, and agricultural productivity through improved monitoring and sustainable farming practices.